An unidentified floating object that washed up on the beach has been identified as a segment of a large buoy.

Glenn Hughes, of Shoreham, who alerted The Argus to the object on Shoreham beach, said some people had thought it was part of a plane.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said they were investigating the object but could only confirm at the time that it was not part of a navigation buoy.

Dom Ferris, 35, of environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), believed it was part of a ship.

But, with the help of Alan Minter, of Valkyrie Diving and Marine services, The Argus was able to determine that the object was in fact a quarter segment of a large mooring buoy.

Alan, 55, said that a large buoy had most likely been smashed to pieces during winter storms and that the segment in question probably floated about until ending up in Shoreham.

Mooring buoys are used to keep one end of a cable or chain on the water’s surface so that ships or boats can be tied on to it.